dconf-service

dconf-service [OPTION…]

--session
    Run a session bus instance.
This is the default.

--replace
    Replace any currently running instance of the service.

--session-bus-timeout=SECONDS
    Set session bus activation timeout to SECONDS (default: 20).

--help
    Print help and exit.

-?
    Equivalent to --help.

--version
    Print version and exit.

dconf-service is the D-Bus-activated backend service for the dconf configuration system, used extensively in GNOME and other desktop environments. It manages a fast, binary key-value store for application settings, enabling atomic updates, efficient queries, and real-time change notifications.

The service exposes the org.freedesktop.DConf interface on the user session bus, allowing applications to read/write settings via D-Bus method calls. Settings are organized hierarchically under paths tied to GSettings schemas, with support for multiple user profiles defined in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dconf/profile.

Normally auto-launched by D-Bus on first access, it handles locking, watching for changes, and propagation across processes. Direct manual use is rare, mainly for testing or debugging session bus behavior. It replaced the older XML-based GConf system, offering better performance and simplicity.

Requires write access to the dconf database at $XDG_DATA_HOME/dconf/user for full functionality.

Not intended for routine user execution; D-Bus auto-activates it.
Manual runs may conflict without --replace. Requires dconf DB permissions.

Provides org.freedesktop.DConf at path /org/freedesktop/DConf on session bus.

User profiles via XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dconf/profile file; default is 'user'.

XDG_DATA_HOME/dconf (usually ~/.config/dconf/user); binary, relocatable.

Introduced in 2011 with dconf 0.7 by the GNOME Project as a faster GConf replacement. Evolved with GNOME 3.x for schema-based config.

dconf(1), gsettings(1), dconf-editor(1), dbus-daemon(8)